Fuel crisis hits development projects

Bajura, January 9

Development activities, including national pride projects, in the far-western development region have been affected due to the long-drawn Madhes agitation.

Almost all projects, including Kailali’s Rani-Jamara Irrigation Project, Seti Highway, Chameliya Micro Hydropower Project, Budhiganda Hydropower Project, Sanfe-Martadi Road, Mid-Hill Highway, Mahakali Irrigation (third phase), have been halted due to fuel crunch and shortage of construction materials.

According to Engineer at the Road Department Amritmani Rimal, construction of Seti Highway and Martadi-Kolti road stretch and black-topping of the Sanfe-Martadi road have also been halted.

“We had planned to link Martadi with Kolti by the end of the current fiscal but the ongoing fuel crisis has left us worried. If the crisis continues we may not be able to complete the project on time,” said Krishna Bam, contractor of the project.

Rani Jamara Irrigation Project has also suffered a major setback due to the ongoing fuel crunch. Budhiganga Project, whose construction took off just last year, has failed to resume works so far.

Chief District Officer Dhana Prasad Sharma Poudel of Bajura, on his part, rued the impact of the Madhes agitation on development activities in the region. “As fuel is in short supply, it has affected all development projects in the area,” he said, adding works on the Mid-Hill Highway have also halted in Achham.

According to Engineer Devi Prasad Pande of the District Technicians’ Office, Bajura, not a single project has taken off or resumed this fiscal. “Six months into the new fiscal year, works have yet to resume,” said Pande.